South Africa to legalize cultivation of medical marijuana in 2017

South Africa is on a move to legalize the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes in April 2017. This comes after the Parliament’s health committee accepted to implement the Medical Innovation Bill. A bill which was proposed by late Dr. Mario Ambrosini of Inkatha Freedom Party in 2013.

Dr. Mario committed suicide in 2014 after he was refused an orthodox medical treatment in favour of alternative medicine, including medical marijuana to treat his lung cancer.XX Speaking after the announcement by the Medicines Control Council and the Department of Health in Parliament last week, Mr. Singh of the IFP said:
'This heralds a great step forward for public access and research into the use of medicinal cannabis.

I feel a great sense of relief. I must thank the Department for taking up this issue with such passionate concern for our people. What matters now is that the Department ensures that access to medicinal cannabis will not be restricted to the rich, but that anyone who needs it will be able to afford it, and get it.'

However, it was also reported that the Health Department will publish guidelines for the medicine by the end of the year while guidelines for its growth for medicinal use will be unveiled by February next year.

The medicine will be specifically prescribed for patients with muscle spasm and severe chronic pain.